Songs about Tokyo: A Collection of Popular J‑Pop Classics [2025]
The classic J-POP songs that sing of Tokyo’s brilliance are filled with lyrics that resonate and beautiful melodies.
Against the backdrop of the capital’s scenery—Shinjuku’s night view, Shibuya’s scramble crossing, the old-town charm of Asakusa—countless dramas of love, dreams, and longing have been portrayed.
These songs, which at times celebrate solitude and at times hope, continue to be close to many people’s hearts even today.
Don’t you have a song tied to your own memories, too? This time, we’ve researched memorable tracks related to the city of Tokyo and included some of the latest releases, so be sure to check them out.
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Songs about Tokyo: A roundup of popular J-POP classics [2025] (41–50)
Tokyo Boogie-WoogieShizuko Kasagi
Alongside songs like “Blue Mountain Range” and “The Apple Song,” “Tokyo Boogie-Woogie” is often cited as a tune that energized postwar Japan.
It was performed by Shizuko Kasagi, who took the nation by storm as the “Queen of Boogie.” An NHK morning drama series modeled after her, “Boogie Woogie,” has also been greenlit! The song is sure to be back in the spotlight.
Many seniors must have drawn energy and courage from it, too.
Why not sway to its distinctive melody and sing it with a liberating feeling?
12th graderKazuo Funaki
A masterpiece that embodies the radiance of youth, representing our nation.
Released in June 1963 as Kazuo Funaki’s debut, it became a massive hit, selling one million copies within a year.
With lyrics that carefully portray the feelings of a high school senior and a march-like melody that pairs beautifully with them, this work resonates deeply.
The complex emotions of students on the verge of graduation seep into listeners’ hearts through Funaki’s clear, pure vocals.
A film of the same title was also released, and the song was selected among Japan’s Top 100 Songs—an immortal classic.
It’s a beloved track across generations that vividly revives nostalgic memories.
5 o'clock in ShibuyaMasayuki Suzuki
It’s a duet with Momoko Kikuchi.
It still seems to be popular as a standard duet number even today.
I saw it on a concert program or something, and it seems Masayuki Suzuki fell in love with Kikuchi’s voice and made the offer.
Kikuchi initially declined, saying their singing abilities were too different, but he insisted, and she said she accepted, feeling humbled.
I think Suzuki’s deep voice and Kikuchi’s beautiful soprano match perfectly.
TOKYO DREAMYu Takahashi
This is a song by Yu Takahashi that delicately portrays the feelings of young people who have left their hometowns.
The protagonist’s inner conflict and emotions as he moves to Tokyo in pursuit of his dreams seep into the heart, carried by a gentle voice.
Released in August 2016, the song may reflect Takahashi’s own experience of leaving Akita for Tokyo.
It’s an anthem for young people who, despite being bewildered by the clamor of the big city, strive to forge their own path.
A perfect track for starting a new chapter or finding the courage to dive into a new environment.
It’s sure to gently nudge the back of anyone who keeps chasing their dreams.
Tokyo Teddy BearNeru
A song marked by striking lyrics that intertwine the tattered teddy bear’s condition with the boy’s inner state.
The content can be read as a suicide note, and listeners interpret it in various ways—as a song about bullying, the hardships of job hunting, family discord, or the struggles of moving to the city and not fitting in.
Tokyo GirlfriendPRINCESS PRINCESS
This song vividly portrays the glitter of Tokyo nights and young love.
Its fresh vocals and powerful melody brilliantly capture the feelings of a woman striving in the big city.
Released in May 1986 on the debut mini-album “Kiss de Crime,” it ranked high on the Oricon charts.
With provocative lyrics about party nights and dangerous romances, it resonated with the youth of the time.
It’s recommended for anyone who wants to feel Tokyo’s allure and the radiance of youth.
Listening to this track conjures the image of a woman who, while immersed in the bustle of the city, carries a quiet sense of loneliness.
Una Sera di TokyoThe Peanuts
This work vividly portrays Tokyo’s nightscape and the lives of its people.
The bittersweet melancholy hidden within the city’s glamorous nightlife wafts even from its Italian title.
The Peanuts’ clear harmonies beautifully capture both the bustle of Tokyo and the loneliness that lies behind it.
Released in October 1964, it won both the Lyrics and Composition Awards at the 6th Japan Record Awards that same year.
In 1965, it was adapted into a film by Shochiku, and it was performed three times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
It’s a perfect song for those who live amid the clamor of the big city yet still carry a longing for their hometown.